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Biomedical subjects

C Sato

Publications and source records attributed to C Sato.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Comparison of necrosis and fibrotic repair after ethanol injection between normal and cirrhotic livers.

To study the effects of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy on livers, we investigated necrotic changes after ethanol injection and fibrotic changes during the repair process in cirrhotic livers in comparison with normal livers. Male rats were treated with oral doses of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene and thioacetamide to produce liver cirrhosis. Both control animals and cirrhotic animals were injected with 0.2 ml of absolute ethanol into livers. Histological samples were cut serially, and the maximum areas of necrosis and fibrosis were measured until 28 days after the injection. Although the maximum area of necrosis was not different between cirrhotic livers and control livers, the average fibrotic ratio [(maximum fibrotic area/maximum necrotic area + maximum fibrotic area) x 100] was 64% in control livers (n = 9) and 40% in cirrhotic livers (n = 9; p < 0.05). The fibrotic repair process after ethanol injection seems to be impaired in cirrhotic livers as compared with normal livers.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma by transarterial chemotherapy using reservoirs or one-shot arterial chemotherapy.

A prospective trial was performed in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma to assess the therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemotherapy using implanted reservoirs (12 patients) or conventional transcatheter arterial chemotherapy (8 patients). Epirubicin at a dose of 40 mg/m2 was given every month in the former, while epirubicin at a dose of 60 mg/m2 was administered every 3 months in the latter. During the 6 months from the introduction of these therapies, hospitalized periods were shorter and total hospital costs were less in the reservoir group than in the conventional chemotherapy group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Transcatheter arterial chemotherapy using implanted reservoirs can be carried out on a day-care basis and may be beneficial for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome associated with primary anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome.

A 28-year-old woman with a history of a spontaneous abortion developed thrombocytopenia, Coombs-negative hemolytic anemia, and liver dysfunction at the sixteenth week of pregnancy. These findings were compatible with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet counts). Moreover, serum anti-phospholipid antibodies were positive, suggesting the association of anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. An artificial abortion, anti-coagulation therapy, and plasma exchange were performed concomitantly with corticosteroid therapy. She responded to the therapy, a remission was obtained. Anti-phospholipid antibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of HELLP syndrome.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1997

Solitary and multiple pyogenic liver abscesses: characteristics of the patients and efficacy of percutaneous drainage.

OBJECTIVES: Although percutaneous drainage has emerged as one of the first line of therapies for pyogenic liver abscesses, the presence of multiple abscesses may warrant surgical drainage, which remains controversial in the literature. We studied whether the multiplicity of the lesions influences the outcome of the treatment. METHODS: Ultrasonography-guided percutaneous drainage was carried out in 48 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses. The abscesses were solitary in 38 patients and multiple (two to seven lesions) in 10 patients. Clinical characteristics and the efficacy of the treatment were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: Biliary diseases and malignancies were more frequently observed in the solitary cases than multiple cases. A past history of surgery for cholelithiasis was seen exclusively in the multiple cases. E. coli was more frequently cultured from the abscesses in the multiple cases. Three of the multiple cases required more than a single catheter. All of the multiple cases and 36 of the 38 solitary cases were successfully treated. Two patients died of biliary peritonitis as a complication of the procedure, and three died of other underlining diseases. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography-guided percutaneous drainage is effective even in patients with multiple pyogenic liver abscesses by adding catheters to obtain sufficient drainage.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Autoimmune hepatitis triggered by administration of an herbal medicine.

Although herbal medicines are believed to be safe with few side effects, there are several reports on drug-induced liver injury caused by them. However, there are no reports of autoimmune hepatitis triggered by herbal medicines. We report here the case of a patient with autoimmune hepatitis that became clinically apparent after administration of Dai-saiko-to (Da-Chai-Hu-Tang), an herbal medicine that is used as a standard medicine in Japan.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1997

[Errors in detection of subgroups in the ABO blood group system].

In the ABO blood group system, several subgroups have been described based on: 1) the difference of reactivities of the red cells with anti-A, anti-B, anti-A1, and anti-H, 2) the presence or absence of anti-A, anti-B, anti-A1, anti-H, and anti-HI in serum, and 3) the presence of A, B, H substances in the saliva of ABH secretors. Subgroups of A are more frequent in Caucasians than in Japanese, while those of B are more frequent in Japanese. Both the red cell typing (testing red cells for A and B antigens) and serum typing (testing the antibodies in the serum against red cells of known ABO groups) are important to identify and not to overlook these ABO subgroups. When transfusion is required in individuals with these subgroups, compatible blood products must be selected according to the presence or absence of antibodies active at 37 degrees C.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1996

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the chick melanocortin 1-receptor gene.

The chick melanocortin 1-receptor gene was isolated. It is found to be an intronless gene encoding a 314 amino acid protein, sharing 64% identity with mammalian counterparts. A cis-element responsible for melanocyte-specific transcription is found in its 5' upstream region. It is probable that the expression of the receptor in melanocytes is closely correlated with that of melanogenesis-related genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Mutations in the nonstructural protein 5A gene and response to interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus 1b infection.

BACKGROUND: A region associated with sensitivity to interferon has been identified in the nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b. The region spans amino acid residues 2209 to 2248 (NS5A2209-2248) of HCV-J, a strain of HCV-1b whose complete genomic sequence has been identified. We examined whether the NS5A2209-2248 sequence present before therapy could be used as a predictor of the response to interferon therapy in patients with chronic HCV-1b infection. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 84 patients with chronic HCV-1b infection who had received interferon alfa (total dose, 516 million to 880 million units) for six months. Pretreatment serum samples were analyzed. The amino acid sequence of NS5A2209-2248 was determined by direct sequencing of the HCV genome amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was compared with the established sequence for HCV-J. RESULTS: A complete response, as evidenced by the absence of HCV RNA in serum on nested reverse-transcription PCR for six months after therapy, did not occur in any of the 30 patients whose NS5A2209-2248 sequences were identical to that of HCV-J (wild type). Five of 38 patients (13 percent) with 1 to 3 changes in NS5A2209-2248 (intermediate type) had complete responses, as did all 16 patients with 4 to 11 amino acid substitutions (mutant type), indicating that the mutant type was significantly associated with a complete response (P < 0.001). Although baseline serum HCV RNA levels, as measured by a branched-chain DNA assay, were lower in patients with the mutant type of NS5A2209-2248 than in those with the other types (P < 0.001), multivariate analyses revealed that the number of amino acid substitutions in NS5A2209-2248 was the only variable associated with an independent effect on the outcome of interferon therapy (odds ratio, 5.3; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 18; P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic HCV-1b infection, there is a substantial correlation between responses to interferon and mutations in the NS5A gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Complete nucleotide sequences of hepatitis B virus genomes associated with epidemic fulminant hepatitis.

Pre-core/core mutants are frequently observed in patients with fulminant hepatitis. To investigate the extent of molecular characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes implicated in the development of fulminant hepatitis, full-length HBV genomes were sequenced directly from sera of two patients with epidemic fatal fulminant hepatitis, after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. These two genomes, of 3215 nucleotides, were 99.6% identical, indicating that a common source of HBV potentially caused fulminant hepatitis. Thirty unique nucleotide mutations were commonly found in the two entire HBV genomes. Three were located in the stem-loop structure, changing this element to a more stable structure. Twenty-five unique amino acid substitutions were found in each open reading frame, except for the X and pre-surface 2 genes. One was located in the pre-surface 1 gene; two were in the surface gene; three were in the pre-core gene, including codons 28 (tryptophan to stop codon) and 29 (glycine to aspartic acid); eight were in the core gene; and 11 were in the polymerase gene. The pre-core mutations at codons 28 and 29 were common to the two HBV strains reported previously in patients with epidemic fulminant hepatitis. Thus, HBV genomes associated with epidemic fatal fulminant hepatitis have numerous unique mutations, located mainly in the polymerase gene, as well as the pre-core/core gene, including mutations in the stem-loop structure of the pregenome encapsidation signal sequence. These mutations may be associated with the development of fulminant hepatitis.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Low prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in female hemodialysis patients without blood transfusion: a multicenter analysis.

To investigate whether nosocomial infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic hemodialysis patients is related primarily to hemodialysis procedures, a multicenter analysis was carried out on 2,132 chronic hemodialysis patients (male: 1,274, female: 858) from 23 dialysis units using a second-generation anti-HCV antibody assay. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in patients with blood transfusion (29.9%) was significantly higher (P < .0001) than in those without blood transfusion (7.6%). Although the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies increased with the length of hemodialysis in males without blood transfusion, it did not increase even after long-term hemodialysis (more than 5 years) in females without blood transfusion, who exhibited a rate (1.9%) similar to that of healthy blood donors in Japan. There was a significant correlation between the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and anti-HBs antibody in males without blood transfusion. In anti-HBs antibody-negative male patients without blood transfusion, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was significantly lower compared with anti-HBs antibody-positive male patients without blood transfusion. There was marked difference in the prevalence rate in patients without blood transfusion among dialysis units, and there was no correlation between the prevalence and the mean period of dialysis of each dialysis unit. Although nosocomial infection with HCV appears to be related to the hemodialysis environment, the low prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in females suggests that dialysis procedures per se may not present the risk of hepatitis C virus infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Mutations in the core promoter region of hepatitis B virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The core promoter region of hepatitis B virus genomes regulates transcription of the precore and pregenomic mRNAs encoding hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and core antigen that contain target epitopes for cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The prevalence and clinical significance of mutations in this region were investigated. DNA was extracted from six asymptomatic carriers positive for HBeAg, eight asymptomatic carriers positive for an anti-HBe antibody, and 24 patients with chronic liver disease. The core promoter and precore regions of hepatitis B virus genomes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and predominant sequences were determined by direct sequencing. Mutations were found in none of the HBeAg-positive asymptomatic carriers but in all of the anti-HBe-positive asymptomatic carriers and the patients with chronic liver disease. Especially, A to T mutations at nucleotide 1762 and G to A mutations at nucleotide 1764 were found in five anti-HBe-positive asymptomatic carriers, and 22 patients with chronic liver disease. These two mutation hot spots were located within binding sites of the nuclear factors, and nucleotide 1762 was also involved in the A, T rich sequence that is located 28 base pairs upstream of the precore mRNA initiation site. Serum HBeAg and DNA polymerase levels were significantly lower in patients with these mutations than those without these mutations, and five individuals with these mutations were positive for anti-HBe despite the absence of the precore stop codon mutation. These mutants may be selected by host immune response to HBeAg and/or core antigen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

ATP release by angiotensin II from segments and cultured smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig taenia coli.

Effects of angiotensin II on ATP release were evaluated in segments and cultured smooth muscle cells from the guinea-pig taenia coli. In the segments, angiotensin II (0.3-3 microM) elicited release of ATP which was blocked by losartan and SC-52458, non-peptide angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1)-antagonists, but not by PD-123319, an AT2-antagonist. In superfused cultured cells, 10 microM angiotensin II likewise elicited release of ATP. Again the response was blocked by losartan and SC-52458 but not by PD-123319. These findings suggest that angiotensin II releases ATP from the smooth muscles by activation of angiotensin II-, presumably AT1-, receptors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Selection of hepatitis C virus quasispecies during interferon treatment.

Preliminary studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies populations after interferon therapy are different from those before interferon, suggesting that selection of HCV quasispecies occurs during IFN treatment. To confirm this, fluctuations of HCV quasispecies populations were investigated by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis in eight patients who remained viremic during interferon treatment. In all patients, HCV quasispecies populations changed in 1 to 4 months after the start of interferon therapy. In seven patients, a minor population of HCV quasispecies that was present before the interferon therapy was selected and became predominant during the therapy, whereas the abundance of the other quasispecies was reduced. In the other patients, new HCV quasispecies that had not been detected before interferon therapy appeared and replaced the pretreatment HCV. In contrast, no significant changes were observed during the pretreatment period in these patients. In two patients, deduced amino acid sequences of the hypervariable region were identical despite the difference in nucleotide sequences between interferon-sensitive and interferon-resistant HCV. Thus, selection of HCV quasispecies occurs during interferon treatment and immune responses to the hypervariable region may not be the determining factor of the selection.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hyponatremia with consciousness disturbance caused by omeprazole administration. A case report and literature review.

A 68-year-old man developed severe consciousness disturbance after daily administration of 20 mg omeprazole for four days for the treatment of bleeding gastric ulcer. Systemic investigation revealed severe hyponatremia (111 meq/liter). Consciousness did not become clear until his sodium intake was increased to 480 meq/day, and his serum sodium concentrations reached 130 meq/liter. After the discontinuation of omeprazole, his serum sodium levels returned to the normal range with only minimum supplementation of sodium in the form of dietary sodium chloride intake of 10 g/day. Although the mechanism of hyponatremia induced by omeprazole is not clear, an excessive loss of urinary sodium appears to be more likely than water retention with an increase in fluid intake. The literature was also reviewed.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Hepatic iron contents and response to interferon-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Relationship to genotypes of hepatitis C virus.

Recent reports have shown that response to interferon treatment is influenced by hepatic iron contents in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In those reports, however, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and serum HCV-RNA levels were not examined. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hepatic iron contents influence the response to interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C and whether HCV genotypes and serum HCV-RNA levels play a role in this relationship. Among 65 patients with chronic hepatitis C, hepatic iron contents were significantly high in patients with a history of excess drinking of alcohol (more than 80 g/day) compared to those without, and significantly low in female patients before menopause. Having excluded these patients, hepatic iron contents were significantly higher in patients with genotype 1b infection than those with genotype 2a and 2b infection. There was no significant correlation between hepatic iron contents and plasma HCV-RNA levels. Among the patients with genotype 1b infection, hepatic iron contents were significantly lower in the responders to interferon than those in the nonresponders (429 +/- 100 vs 875 +/- 110 micrograms/g liver, P < 0.05). From these results, it is concluded that response to interferon is mainly influenced by HCV genotypes, while hepatic iron contents may play an important role in response to interferon in patients with genotype 1b infection.

Adolescent↗